Knicks Rumors: Latest Buzz on Austin Rivers Contract, Fred VanVleet, More

The future was supposed to be now for the New York Knicks.

After all, they have a new head coach in Tom Thibodeau and a new president in Leon Rose. They also added Obi Toppin as a ready-to-play rookie and potential third cornerstone alongside RJ Barrett and Mitchell Robinson.

Alas, they did not sign any of the marquee free agents who were available this offseason and appear destined for another disappointing campaign.

Just because that first playoff appearance since the 2012-13 campaign may have to wait doesn't mean there aren't still some rumors about the Knicks. With that in mind, here is the latest buzz from the Big Apple.

Knicks Targeted Fred VanVleet

Ashley Landis/Associated Press

Few players available this offseason would have made as big an impact for the Knicks as point guard Fred VanVleet.

The 2018-19 NBA champion averaged 17.6 points, 6.6 assists, 3.8 rebounds and 1.9 steals per game last season and is someone who would have provided outside shooting, perimeter defense and playoff-tested mettle to a roster that needs it.

Unfortunately for New York, he re-signed with the Toronto Raptors for four years and $85 million.

Marc Berman of the New York Post reported the Knicks would have signed the Wichita State product to that same contract "in a heartbeat," but he ultimately wanted to stay with the Raptors. That New York eyed VanVleet underscores its at least initial desire this offseason to add win-now players, but he remained with the only NBA team he has ever known.

What made it worse from New York's perspective is the miss on backup plan D.J. Augustin. 

Berman reported he was the team's "top priority" at the position when VanVleet was off the table, but he chose the Milwaukee Bucks instead for three years and $21 million.

New York Lands Austin Rivers

Mark J. Terrill/Associated Press

With VanVleet and Augustin elsewhere, the Knicks didn't have as many options in the backcourt.

They at least added some depth in the form of Austin Rivers.

ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski reported New York signed the journeyman to a three-year, $10 million contract.

Frank Isola of SiriusXM NBA Radio noted Thibodeau remains close with Rivers' father, Doc, and "has been a big fan of Austin Rivers for years."

Rivers figures to work in the rotation with Elfrid Payton and Frank Ntilikina as someone who can either handle the ball or play off it, much like Barrett. He has played for the New Orleans Pelicans, Los Angeles Clippers, Houston Rockets and Washington Wizards throughout a career that started in 2012-13 and will likely be a stabilizing veteran in the backcourt.

The Duke product has consistently been someone capable of providing a scoring spark and can do so off the bench for Thibodeau's team as an option the head coach will surely trust in key moments given his apparent fondness for the new signee.

Knicks' Plan for Donovan Mitchell, Gordon Hayward Falls Short

Kevin C. Cox/Associated Press

The Knicks have been missing a marquee star since Carmelo Anthony was in his prime, and they apparently had a plan in place to help change that.

It didn't work.

According to Berman, New York hoped assistant coach Johnnie Bryant would be a "magnet for Jazz superstar Donovan Mitchell" since they were close in Utah. In fact, Berman reported, "a chief reason why he was wooed by the Knicks away from Utah to serve on Tom Thibodeau's staff was to be a lure for Mitchell."

What's more, "there was also hope internally former Jazz forward Gordon Hayward would feel more comfortable in New York with Bryant on board."

Instead, Mitchell signed a five-year, $195 million contract extension with Utah, while Hayward signed a four-year, $120 million deal with the Charlotte Hornets.

As for Hayward, Berman noted the Knicks were looking to sign him for two years and much less money than what was deemed "a major overpay by Charlotte." While Hayward is a dangerous scorer on the wing who was an All-Star during his time with the Jazz, he is also 30 years old with injury risk following his tenure with the Boston Celtics.

Given their misses this offseason and these developments, the Knicks will need a new plan to convince some of the league's biggest stars to come to New York and be the face of a turnaround.